Then turned back toward him.
"Your company submitted three acquisition proposals."
Masaru stared.
She continued.
"The first undervalued the property. The second required us to dismiss most of our staff. And the third was so insulting that my attorney suggested framing it as an example of what not to do during a business negotiation."
Kenji's mouth opened slightly.
Masaru slowly rose from his seat.
"Who are you?"
The waitress adjusted the sleeve of her pale-blue kimono.
Then smiled.
"My name is Amara Reed."
The billionaire frowned.
She continued in English.
"And Mr. Kuroda, this is my restaurant."
Kenji's chopsticks slipped from his hand.
They struck the table with a sharp click.
Masaru stared at the young woman.
Then laughed.
It was a disbelieving, angry laugh.
"Impossible."
Amara looked toward the elegant wooden screens.
Then at the food scattered across the table.
Finally, she turned toward him.
"Your lawyers have spent months trying to discover who controls the ownership company."
Masaru's expression changed.
She smiled faintly.
"Now you know."
The billionaire's face drained of color.
But Amara wasn't finished.
She looked directly into his eyes.
"And since you're so interested in the philosophy of Japanese hospitality, perhaps you can explain something to me."
Masaru remained silent.
She spoke slowly.
"How does a man who wants to purchase a seventy-year-old restaurant expect to preserve its traditions when he cannot show basic respect to the people who keep those traditions alive?"
For a long moment, nobody moved.
Then a soft knock came from behind the shoji screen.
An elderly Japanese woman entered.
She was seventy-three years old, with silver hair arranged in a neat bun and a beautiful dark-indigo kimono decorated with delicate white flowers.
Her name was Sachiko Sato.
She had spent almost her entire life inside the restaurant.
Masaru recognized her immediately.
His expression shifted from disbelief to confusion.
"Sato-san?"
The elderly woman bowed respectfully.
Then walked to Amara's side.
She looked toward the scattered food.
The tilted serving tray.
And the billionaire standing beside the table.
Her face became very still.
Finally, she spoke.
"黒田様、この店のご当主に対して、ずいぶんと失礼なことをなさいましたね。"
Mr. Kuroda, you have behaved extraordinarily disrespectfully toward the owner of this establishment.
Masaru stared.
Sachiko turned toward Amara.
Then bowed deeply.
"女将、お怪我はございませんか。"
Madam proprietor, are you injured?
Amara shook her head.
"大丈夫です。ありがとうございます。"
I'm fine. Thank you.
The billionaire looked from one woman to the other.